KILT lays off longtime radio icon Jim Carola

Carola continues as PA announcer for Texans games

By David Barron |
December 17, 2004

Veteran Houston newsmen Jim Carola, a familiar voice to Houston sports fans for four decades, and Pat Hernandez were laid off Wednesday night by KILT radio as part of planned cutbacks in the station's news operation.

Carola, 63, who had worked at KILT since its heyday as the Houston outpost of Gordon McLendon's radio empire, said he and Hernandez were told that KILT-FM (100.3 FM) will drop afternoon newscasts in an effort to improve its standing in the competitive Houston radio market.

"The ratings have not been good, and we were the last, as far as I know, full-service news department at a music station in Houston," Carola said.

Carola, KILT's news director, said he and Hernandez, who was city editor and public affairs editor for KILT-FM and AM (610 AM), received the news from station manager Laura Morris and KILT-FM program director Jeff Garrison.

"It's the hardest thing a manager has to do, especially with talented, loyal and dedicated employees who have done a terrific job," Morris said. "But it's the changing face of our business, and it was no longer the best choice for KILT (FM) to have a full-time news department with newscasts throughout the day."

Carola joined KILT in 1964, when he was a junior at the University of Houston, and became news director in 1970. He was public-address announcer for Super Bowl VIII at Rice Stadium and filled the same role at Oilers games for 28 years, missing only one game in 1987 after an appendectomy. He currently is PA announcer for Texans games at Reliant Stadium.

"I'll bet if you go in the Astrodome today, you can still hear Jim Carola's voice," said CBS Sports announcer Jim Nantz, who has known Carola since his days as a UH student.

Despite the timing of the layoffs, Carola said he holds no hard feelings.

"I'm thankful for the 30 years I had at the station. It was a good ride," he said.